Tag Archives: Wirksworth

I found this extremely rare Lea Francis P-type tourer yesterday (Saturday) at the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway’s classic vehicle weekend. Only 1,093 P-types were built, and only 97 remain in roadworthy condition! This one has not been ‘restored’ but simply maintained in good condition – I think it is all the better for that. In the vintage and classic vehicle fraternity, vehicles like this are termed ‘oily rags’!

Yesterday evening, the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway ran a special service – a steam-hauled trip from Wirksworth to Duffield and back, with a jazz trio on board, and the newly-restored bar coach fully operational! Here, the Henry Ellison prepares to pull the train back to Wirksworth. I always find there’s something rather charismatic about trains at dusk, especially when there’s a steam loco involved!

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Once again, this shot is from a visit to the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway, Wirkworth, Derbyshire. The unusual perspective here was only possible to obtain because a) the loco was coupled to the coach by its front (smoke-box) end, and b) the coach in use had a glazed door at the end. you’ll notice there is very little smoke; this is because this shot was taken while travelling down a steep incline, so very little power is required. Just an hour earlier, I had the experience of riding on the footplate of this same loco!

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Yesterday, I succumbed once again to my addiction to the aroma of coal smoke and hot lubricating oil. Here, at Wirksworth, Derbyshire, the Henry Ellison takes the last trip of the day to Ravenstor. In the last few seconds of waiting to depart, her boiler pressure hit the maximum, so she was blowing off steam from the safety valve as she pulled away!

This is the beautifully restored ‘No. 3’, originally from Ferrybridge Power station, working the Wirksworth to Ravenstor service today at the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway. She has to work hard as she hits the 1 in 25 incline!